18 



THE CYPRINODONTS. 



back, and the body cavity is rather short and deep. The head and body are 

 covered with scales. The mouth is anterior, its upper margin is formed by 

 the intermaxillaries, and its cleft varies from vertical to horizontal in the dif- 

 ferent genera. The ej^es are lateral. Teeth are borne on mandibles and 

 intermaxillaries, in one to many series, and in cardiforni groups on the upper 

 and lower pharyngeals. A single dorsal, on the hinder portion of the body. 

 Air bladder simple in the females, membranous, without ossicula. Alimen- 

 tary tract short to long. No blind sac on the stomach. No pyloric append- 

 ages. No adipose fin. No barbels. But few species possess pseudobranchise 

 or vomerine teeth. 



The descriptions of a number of species lack the details of most impor- 

 tance in comparisons ; in consequence it is not possible to satisfactorily place 

 such forms in synopses. 



Teetli compressed ; 



anal not modified on the male ; 



jaws firmly joined ; teetli fixed ; 

 cusps three ; 



series of teeth on each jaw one ; 

 body deep ; intestine long 

 body elongate ; intestine medium 

 veutrals absent ; 

 cusps two ; body elongate ; 

 series of teeth several 



intestine short ; D. and A. long 

 series of teeth two 

 anal modified, without a tube ; teeth chisel or 

 oar-shaped, hooked 

 anal process long ; 



teeth chisel shaped, broad ; 



jaws firmly joined, teeth fixed 

 jaws loosely joined 

 teeth movable 

 anal process short 



jaws loosely joined ; teeth movable 

 series of teeth on each jaw one 

 series of teeth several 

 D. long; body short 

 D. short ; body short 



caudal of male sword-shaped 

 anal modified, with a tube ; 

 pupil entire ; pelvis entire 

 males rights and lefts 

 Teeth conical, in bands ; 



anal modified, with a tube ; 



pupil divided ; pelvis divided 



males and females rights and lefts 



Page 

 Ctpkinodontin^ 19 



Cyprinodon 19 



Lebias 29 



Tellia 35 



Characodvn 35 

 Girardinichthys 38 



Neolebias 39 



P(ECILIIN.ffi 40 



